Objectives & study scope

This report seeks to identify the challenges relating to equitable space access and ways to overcome these, towards providing practicable policy recommendations for countries seeking a greater presence in space. The underlying research is part of wider aims to foster the principle of space as the “province of humankind”. This study focuses on a series of research objectives (see box below).

Research Objectives

The overarching research objectives of this study are to: 6. Map the international legal framework in space regarding access to Geostationary orbital (GEO) slots. 7. Analyze the key space priorities, capabilities, partnerships, and challenges facing major emerging spacefaring countries. 8. Gauge the potential economic, geostrategic and wider societal benefits of space programs in developing countries. 9. Identify risks and challenges of more actors in space, as well as key enablers and obstacles to inclusive and peaceful outcomes in the space domain. 10. Determine good practices and recommendations for developing countries seeking a greater presence in space. R E P O R T S T R U C T U R E

These research objectives aim to provide an overview of the topic of equitable access to space and emerging spacefaring countries. This report follows the following structure:

Chapter Two of this report investigates the international legal framework in space, analyzing the founding treaties and principles in space law, as well as identifying some of the lacunae and points of contention relating to access to geostationary orbital slots. It is important to understand existing international frameworks and determine areas in need of further research input. This chapter offers an overview of legal analysis in the contemporary literature to assist future research on equitable access to space. A separate, forthcoming paper provides indepth analysis of international law and future resource exploitation in space.

Chapter Three provides case study analysis of four emerging spacefaring countries (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea). Considering the unique strengths, priorities and challenges of these countries is important to understand the evolving space domain. This case study analysis is also employed towards the identification of good practices.

Chapter Four identifies the underlying rationales for space agency foundation in countries. This chapter also generates an understanding of the potential economic, scientific, geostrategic and wider societal benefits new space actors bring to the established spacefaring community, while noting associated risks or threats.

Chapter Five identifies recommendations and good practices for countries seeking access to space, in terms of attracting, developing and retaining space talent, building sustainable space industries, and establishing and meeting space priorities. The below figure illustrates the structure of this report.

Figure 1: Report Structure Diagram

D E F I N I T I O N S A N D A S S U M P T I O N S

This study distinguishes between the terms “emerging spacefaring nations” and “new spacefarers”. The definition of an "emerging spacefaring nation", as set out by the European Space Policy Institute describes "a country that is increasing its effort in the space domain and which is in the process of establishing broader autonomous capacities to access, operate in space, and benefit from a variety of space activities."20 This understanding emphasizes the development of sovereign capabilities, particularly countries with their own satellite manufacturing or launch facilities. The case study analysis of this report (Chapter Three) examines emerging spacefaring countries (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and South Africa) to identify key priorities, challenges and good practices.

The term “new spacefarers” is used in this report to refer to countries with budding space sectors and whose space programs are reliant on international collaboration or foreign investment. These countries may not currently have the capacity for sovereign capabilities, but they are participating in space. The recommendations provided in Chapter Five of this report are geared towards policymakers from these countries.

This report uses the principle of “equitable access” to space, a concept introduced by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to ensure that all countries have the opportunity to access geosynchronous orbit.21 “Equitable access” indicates a general principle of promoting and prioritizing access among all nations, though such an outcome cannot be concretely quantified. There is room for further research to identify what precisely a model of “equitable access” to space could look like.

This study employs a broad understanding of equitable access, beyond simply access to GEO and associated frequencies. Looking to the rapid proliferation of megaconstellations in low Earth orbit (LEO), as well as future uses of space, which may include resource extraction, it becomes clear that there is a growing need to expand the concept of “equitable access”. This report applies this principle beyond its initial intended uses, towards fostering the concept of space as the province for all humankind.

20 ESPI (2021) Emerging Spacefaring Nations. Report 79. https://espi.or.at/publications/espi-public-reports/category/2-public-espireports#:~:text=Notable%20examples%20of%20emerging%20spacefaring,in%20the%20Asia%2DPacific%20region. 21 Cappella, Matteo (2019) The Principle of Equitable Access in the Age of Mega-Constellations, Legal Aspects Around Satellite Constellations, Studies in Space Policy, Volume 19. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019lasc.book...11C/abstract#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20equitable%20access%20was% 20introduced%20by%20the%20International,satellites%2C%20without%20creating%20or%20receiving